GRAND BLANC, MI – The Grand Blanc School Board unanimously voted not to renew its contract with Brendel Elementary Principal Rachel Turner at a
special board meeting on Monday, April 22.

The board's decision followed a contract
renewal hearing that was open to the public at Turner's
request.

Among the witnesses who spoke during the hearing included a
secretary at the elementary school, a parent and a teacher. Complaints that
were made by the witnesses were that Turner didn't properly handle students who
were sent to her office for disciplinary issues and a situation involving the discipline
of a student who made an anti-Semitic reference.

Deputy Superintendent Clarence Garner recommended against the renewal, saying the district must
have effective administrators in all of its buildings.

"The vision that she's had for the school, the direction and
things she wanted to do, that has not come to fruition," Garner said.

Turner has been principal at Brendel Elementary since 2008,
before that working as a teacher in the district at Indian Hill Elementary since
2005.

During her closing statements, Turner referenced a "small
coup of staff" in the building who misrepresented the situation and caused
negativity in the building and invited board members to visit the elementary
school and speak freely with the staff.

"The reason for the plan (of improvement to implement) was
that the small coup of people were still in the building, agitating, reflecting
negativity and undermining the building in the process," Turner said.

Turner also talked about the positive things happening at
Brendel Elementary. At the conclusion of Turner's closing arguments, the
audience applauded.

Those who spoke during public comment in defense of Turner
included members of her family, friend and her priest.

The Rev. Phil Schmitter with Christ the King Catholic Church
in Flint, where Turner is a parishioner, asked how many board members had spent
time at the elementary school and encouraged them to take a deep look into the
situation.

"I hope you will go deeply into this and not sell Mrs. Turner
short as anything but an outstanding woman and an outstanding principal and an
asset to Grand Blanc public schools," Schmitter said.

After the vote, Turner was told to report to central offices instead of the school Tuesday morning.

Dana DeFever can be reached at 810-429-3919 or
ddefever@mlive.com. You can also follow her on Twitter @DanaDeFever or
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